What's going on in your town?

Nov. 11, 2012

Residents of the barrier island of Long Beach Island located in Ocean County, New Jersey were allowed to re-enter the island for the first time to see their homes after Hurricane Sandy cut the island off from the main land. The home of Vincent Renz (right) has been knocked off its foundation and moved across his lot and ended up on a tilted angle as tidal surge moved the home during Hurricane Sandy. HOLGATE, NEW JERSEY ON FRI NOV 9,2012 MARK R. SULLIVAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/HOME NEWS TRIBUNE

Below is a list of key updates on the status of schools, roads, power and access to Shore points in Monmouth and Ocean counties as of Nov. 11, after towns throughout the area were pounded by Sandy two weeks earlier.

ABERDEEN:UPDATE: On Sunday morning, 48 JCP&L customers remained without power here, down from 856 customers Friday.

ALLENHURST: UPDATE:About 5 customers remained without power Sunday morning.

ASBURY PARK:UPDATE: Community clean up at Deal and Sunset lakes were done over the weekend. Schools open Monday and normal garbage pickup and recycling schedules resume this week. Tax and sewer bills are due Tuesday. The boardwalk area remains closed until further notice.

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS: UPDATE: Nine homes remained without power here, JCP&L reported Sunday morning. Schools reopen Monday and Wednesday’s Council meeting has been postponed to Nov. 21. Tuesday’s 7p.m. Harbor Commission meeting is at Borough Hall on First Avenue.

AVON: UPDATE: Police Chief Terry Mahon said power has been restored to most homes here, with the exception of those with extensive electrical damage.

JCP&L reported 23 homes without power here Sunday morning.

Mahon said extensive storm damage cleanup is underway and expects the bulk of it to be completed by Tuesday.

“We’ve brought in additional contractors to help,” Mahon said.

With most of the power restored, residents are able to return to their homes but both bridges into the town remained closed to traffic. Mahon said all other entries into town are open.

While the town’s curfew has been lifted, police are continuing extra patrols at night, Mahon said.

BELMAR:UPDATE: Mayor Matthew Doherty said while clean up efforts are going extremely well throughout the borough, frustration still lies with with near 20 percent of the town still without power Sunday morning.

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“The fact that we have so many people still without heat and without electricity and this is the fourteenth day after the storm is unacceptable,” Doherty said.

A 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew remains in place for neighborhoods without power East of E Street, he said.

“As soon as the power is back on, we’ll lift the curfew,” Doherty said.

Clean up efforts here have included volunteers rallying to help pump out basement flood waters, debris clean up and removal.

Doherty said A FEMA supported hurricane relief distribution center remains open at borough hall and that most community meetings remain stalled.

An overwhelming amount of supplies, food and clothing donations has led to a shift for monetary donations.

“We’ve asked people to stop those donations and instead help with monetary donations because so many families will need the financial assistance in the weeks and months to come,” Doherty said.

While businesses along the town’s popular boardwalk and at its marina sustained devastating loss, the concentration will be to first rebuild the 1.2 miles of boardwalk, Doherty said.

“We are committed to having the boardwalk completed by this Memorial Day,” Doherty said. “We need to to do this for two reasons; one, because the boardwalk is the heart and soul of the community. People go there to walk, to run and to meet and talk. It’s a great social area. At the same time it is very important for the economic ecosystem of our town. Without a boardwalk we will attract less tourists and without the tourists, the businesses in our down town will suffer. If they suffer just one summer it will enough to cripple them.”